May 2026

News You Can Use for MO Communications

ACEC Career Center

Visit the ACEC “Engineering Career Center” and connect with qualified candidates who align with your firm’s needs and long-term goals. As an added benefit, post internship opportunities at no cost and reach emerging talent early. Make the right connection today!

ACEC Coalitions

Take advantage of upcoming coalition programming focused on peer exchange, advocacy engagement, and practical industry insight.

Upcoming Peer-Led Roundtables (Free to Attend) peer-led forum where ACEC members from across the country come together to discuss real-world challenges, share solutions, and learn from others facing similar issues in their practice area.

Online Education Sessions for Coalition Members

Setting the Stage for Success with the Design-Build Delivery Model 

June 3 | 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET | Virtual | For Members in the Design Build space | 1.5 PDHs

As collaborative delivery models continue to expand, this session explores the evolving risk landscape for structural engineers working in Design-Build and IPD environments, including communication, liability, and coordination challenges.

From Dirt to Doors: The Realities of Delivering Affordable Housing

June 4 | 1:30–2:45 PM ET Virtual | For Land Developers and All Members | 1 PDHs

A candid discussion on the regulatory, infrastructure, entitlement, and market realities shaping affordable housing projects and what engineering firms need to understand to stay competitive in this growing sector.

Managing Small Projects Successfully: How to Prevent Small Projects from Becoming a Big Problem 

June 9 & 11 | 10:00 AM & 2:00 PM ET | Virtual | Open to All Members | 1 PDH per session

In partnership with PSMJ, this practical series focuses on the operational and management challenges that can quickly derail small projects, providing actionable strategies to improve project performance, communication, and profitability.

Guidelines for Creating Custom AI Agents 

June 25 | 2:30–4:00 PM ET | Virtual | For MEP Professionals and All Members | 1 PDH

An interactive session for firms ready to move beyond basic AI tool use and begin building internal AI agents to support operations, marketing, project delivery, internal knowledge access, and other firm workflow.

Education

2026 Annual Forums

Registration is now open for ACEC's Annual Forums! This year, the Business Development & Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, Information Technology, and Women’s Leadership Forums will meet September 27-29 in Cleveland, OH. The Annual Forums bring together professionals from engineering firms for two days of open discussion and roundtables where they share best practices, explore problems and solutions, and gain valuable insights into industry trends. For detailed agendas and to register, click here.

Managing Small Projects Successfully

For engineering firm project managers and firm principals, smaller projects can be a core revenue driver. But, smaller projects still have the potential to carry big risk that can be a drag on resources, profitability, and client satisfaction. The good news is that, with the right set of skills in your toolbox, you can ensure that even the smallest projects deliver maximum profits.

Register now for Managing Small Projects Successfully: How to Prevent Small Projects from Becoming Big Problems and learn the skills, hacks, secrets, formulas, trouble-shooters and problem-solvers that make engineering firm executives and clients delighted with small project progress and outcomes.

This program will take place June 9th and 11th with both a morning and an afternoon session each day. For full program details and to register - click here!

Project Management 101

Back by popular demand, Project Management 101: Laying the Foundation for Superior Project Managers kicks off January 27 and offers an opportunity for PMs to strengthen their communication skills with practical information and real-world case studies so that they have the project management confidence that fits your unique workflow specifications. Register today for this 9-week online course!

FAPA Committee

Summer Meeting of the Federal Agencies and Procurement Advocacy (FAPA) Committee – July 8-9 in Missoula, MT

We look forward to seeing many of you in Missoula, Montana for the ACEC Federal Agencies and Procurement Advocacy (FAPA) Committee Summer Meeting July 8-9. Committee Chair Chris Anderson of DJ&A will be our host.

Register: FAPA 26 Summer Meeting Registration Link

We are working on securing several government speakers and plan to have time for robust committee discussion. Invited government speakers include congressional staff, U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, Western Federal Lands Division, USACE, NAVFAC, and more. The meeting will be held all day Wednesday and Thursday morning. A social activity will be held on Thursday afternoon.

🏨 Host Hotel
AC Hotel Missoula Downtown

175 N. Pattee Street,

Missoula, Montana, USA, 59802

💲 Group Rate
$265.00 USD per night

$100 registration fee to offset food and beverage costs

⏰ Hotel Reservation Deadline
Sunday, June 7, 2026

If anyone encounters issues with the link or is unable to complete their reservation online, we kindly ask that they do not contact the front desk. Instead, please reach out directly to AC Hotel Sales Office at 406-218-7108, and they will be happy to assist.

Contact Bradley Saull (bsaull@acec.org) for more information.

Market Intelligence Resources

Communities nationwide are facing a new era of water challenges. In this episode of Market Edge, water resources expert Camilla Correll breaks down the climate trends, policy shifts, and engineering innovations reshaping how we manage stormwater, groundwater, and watershed systems. A must‑listen for ACEC members focused on resilience and future‑ready infrastructure. Catch the latest Market Edge podcast here.

Geopolitical conflict and rising oil prices are making headlines, but new analysis from ACEC’s Chief Economist shows that supply‑chain stress—not oil—is the bigger long‑term driver of construction cost increases. To read more on the blog visit Engineering Inc. magazine here. If you enjoyed this piece you can read more in this op-ed, where ACEC’s Chief Economist argues that “smart engineering” is ultimately about using data—not just new technology—to make better infrastructure decisions here.

New Census data shows early 2026 construction spending beginning to stabilize, with modest gains across most sectors and signs of recovery in markets that struggled in recent years. Residential activity is strengthening, and data centers continue to drive strong growth within the office category. Learn more about the latest spending trends and what they mean for your market click here to access the full update.

Technology Committee

During the Spring Convention in DC, the Technology Committee met to discuss the future topics and focus of our subcommittees. In 2025, we had three subcommittees: Education, Communications, and Data & AI. As the state of technology in the industry continues to evolve, the Committee leadership decided to partially modify our technology subcommittees.

• The Education and Communications subcommittees will be combined into one subcommittee to streamline their collaboration.
• The Data & AI Subcommittee will remain the same with minor adjustments to the three focus groups within the committee.
• The leadership is creating a third subcommittee called "Business & Strategy" that will focus on the intersection of business, strategy, and technology in the engineering industry. Similar to the Data & AI subcommittee, there will be three focus groups that will target different topics or themes to create educational materials and/or tools.

On June 24, 2026, from 12 pm to 1 pm, the Technology Committee will hold a full committee meeting for all members. As part of the initiatives moving forward, the Technology committee plans to have monthly meetings to discuss technology and the industry. During each meeting, the committee will provide an opportunity to learn about and discuss current topics, public policy, and other technology topics. During this first meeting, we will discuss the new Business & Strategy subcommittee topics, as well as solicit opportunities to engage with all of the subcommittees.

Participation in the committee and subcommittees is a great way to engage with like minded, technology-forward individuals in the engineering industry and learn more about the role of technology in the industry.

ACEC Research Institute

The ACEC Research Institute is proud to recognize new donors:

• Morrissey Goodall
• Chartwell Financial Advisors
• Halff
• SSR
• Wilson & Company

New Research Releases

Engineering Business Sentiment Q2 2026

The Q2 2026 Engineering Business Sentiment report shows that engineering firms remain fundamentally strong, supported by durable backlogs, steady firm-level performance, and continued hiring expectations. However, confidence in the broader U.S. economy weakened this quarter, creating a more cautious outlook. Firms are still planning for growth, but at a more measured pace as they navigate rising uncertainty, inflation concerns, healthcare cost increases, and continued workforce constraints.

Download the full report today!
Recording of the State of the Engineering Economy Roundtable

Progressive Design Build

This 2026 research by the ACEC Research Institute, in partnership with the University of Colorado Boulder, the Charles Pankow Foundation and DBIA, examines how PDB is currently practiced, where it performs well, and what distinguishes stronger and weaker project outcomes. Drawing on firm-level surveys, project data, and in-depth case analysis, the study finds that while PDB is widely viewed positively, its success depends less on the delivery method itself and more on how collaboration is structured, governed, and translated into project decisions. Download the full report today!

Recording of Progressive Design-Build Roundtable

Firm of the Future: Redefining the Firm: Talent, Technology and Transformation

The engineering industry is entering a pivotal moment. Longstanding business models built on labor, billable hours, and project delivery are being reshaped by two converging forces: the rapid advancement of artificial intelligence and a tightening supply of engineering talent.

Redefining the Firm: Talent, Technology, and Transformation explores how these forces are changing not just how engineering work gets done, but how firms are structured, how value is delivered, and how the industry will evolve in the years ahead.

Join us, June 18^th, for the Firm of the Future: Redefining the Firm live roundtable as we discuss this important research. Registration is complimentary.

Comments from Members

FEMA Review Council Report May 7– Comments are due June 8, 2026

On May 7, the FEMA Review Council report was released. The Council recommends a comprehensive reduction and rebalancing of the workforce. The report outlines a significant shift in how engineering and technical services would be procured and managed, primarily by decentralizing authority to state and local levels and targeting the reduction of administrative costs associated with private contractors.

Three of the major changes recommended to the president include:

1. Raising the threshold for getting federal disaster aid - Under the proposed changes, states would have a harder time qualifying for federal funds after a disaster.
2. Giving states more control over federal disaster funds - Rebuilding infrastructure after a disaster is a lengthy process and under the current system, it can take years or even decades for states to be reimbursed by FEMA.
3. Changing how the public interacts with FEMA - The council is recommending major changes to how FEMA interacts with the millions of people who rely on the agency every year by making it easier for disaster survivors to apply for help.

Most of the council recommendations will require congressional approval.

The window for public comment on the FEMA Review Council's recommendations is now open through June 8.

Related Content

• GovExec

Please provide comments to Jordan Baugh (jbaugh@acec.org) or Bradley Saull (bsaull@acec.org) by June 5, 2026.

DOD Proposes Expanding FOCI Requirements to Cover Unclassified Contracts – Comments are due July 6, 2026

On May 7, 2026, the Department of Defense/War (DoD) published a proposed rule that would extend, beyond classified contracts, the scope of Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence (FOCI) requirements. The proposed rule, projected to impact as many as 37,740 contractors and subcontractors, would amend the Defense Federal Acquisition Regulation Supplement (DFARS) to implement the FOCI and beneficial ownership disclosure and mitigation requirements of Section 847 of the FY2020 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) and Section 819 of the FY2021 NDAA. The proposed rule also implements elements of DoD Instruction 5205.87, Mitigating Risks Related to Foreign Ownership, Control, or Influence for Covered DoD Contractors and Subcontractors – which DoD issued in May 2024. These NDAA requirements and accompanying Instructions greatly expand the universe of contractors that must disclose foreign ownership information and potentially implement risk mitigation measures that traditionally have been limited to contractors performing classified contracts. Comments are due July 6, 2026.

Related Blog Posts

• Koprince McCall Pottroff LLC
• Wiley

Please provide comments to Bradley Saull (bsaull@acec.org) by June 30, 2026.

Contractors Should Prepare as NIST Finalizes Enhanced Security Requirements for Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information

On May 13, 2026, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) finalized a revision to Special Publication (SP) 800-172r3 (Revision 3), Enhanced Security Requirements for Protecting Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), which provides a selection of recommended cybersecurity controls for protecting CUI resident on a nonfederal information system when associated with a “high value asset” or “critical program.” The revised publication highlights the importance of contractors being able to identify CUI and having plans to implement SP 800-172r3 controls even before the revisions are adopted into the Department of War (DOW) Cybersecurity Maturity Model Certification (CMMC) Program.

Related Blog Posts

• Wiley

Please provide comments to Daniel Axson (daxson@acec.org) or Bradley Saull (bsaull@acec.org).

Business Associations Gather to Discuss United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA)

With the USMCA Joint Review coming on July 1, 2026, numerous business associations in Washington, DC have been communicating about reinforcing to the Administration and Congress the importance of the clarity and certainty the USMCA provides businesses. At such a critical time, it is important that the business community is organized and speaking with one voice.

The USMCA is a modern free trade agreement that entered into force on July 1, 2020, replacing the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). It aims to create a more balanced and reciprocal trade environment, support high-paying jobs, and grow the North American economy.

The USMCA joint review will formally begin on July 1, 2026, which marks the sixth anniversary of the agreement's entry into force. The Free Trade Commission, comprising trade ministers from the United States, Mexico, and Canada, will meet to conduct the review and decide whether to extend the agreement's term.

Purpose: To review the operation and effectiveness of the agreement and for each party to confirm in writing, through its head of government, whether it wishes to extend the USMCA for another 16-year term (until 2042).

Process: The review is a mandatory mechanism under Article 34.7 of the USMCA. The USMCA text is general, which means the process and its outcome will be heavily influenced by domestic politics and ongoing bilateral negotiations among the three countries. It’s up to the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) for action. Congress can influence, but does not have a formal role in the review process.

Potential Outcomes:

• Renewal: All three countries agree to extend the agreement for another 16 years, potentially with targeted updates through side letters.
• Annual Reviews: If any party does not agree to an extension, the agreement does not immediately terminate. Instead, annual reviews are triggered for the remaining 10 years until the agreement's potential expiration on July 1, 2036, or until they reach an agreement on an extension.
• Renegotiation/Withdrawal: Political dynamics and trade tensions, including the use of tariffs by the U.S. administration, suggest that the review might become a high-stakes negotiation where one or more parties push for significant changes to core provisions (e.g., rules of origin, labor enforcement, energy policies), raising the possibility of a party threatening withdrawal as leverage.

As design professionals, ACEC members are at the front end of potential CapEx pullback. When building materials such as lumber, aluminum, and steel go up, we typically see a decline of the number of projects entering the project pipeline in the design phase. ACEC’s goals so far is to stay close to the process to make sure that any negative services provisions are not added and that most of the current USMCA is preserved. ACEC joined a letter to the USTR in December 2025.

Please provide comments to Bradley Saull (bsaull@acec.org) by June 30, 2026 if you have any advocacy priorities related to the USMCA Joint Review.